James Shields: "I believe I'm going to be back"

RHP James Shields, speaking on 620-WDAE Thursday afternoon, sounded hopeful the Rays will pick up his $7.5 million option for the 2012 season.

Teams are likely to announce picking up options following the World Series. Tampa Bay can buy out Shields for $2 million.

"I believe I'm going to be back next year, and I think (executive VP Andrew) Friedman feels the same way," Shields said. "Obviously there's a lot of offseason to go. As far as my opinion, I believe I'm going to be back. But it's a business and you never know what's going to happen. As far as I'm concerned, I want to be back, I definitely want to be part of the team."

Shields, coming off a career season in which he made his first All-Star team and racked up a major-league leading 11 complete games, could finish in the top-five in the AL Cy Young voting. He racked up career highs in 249 1/3 innings, as well as 16 wins and 225 K's.

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The Tampa Bay Rays will head into the 2015 season with Evan Longoria, Chris Archer, Alex Cobb and plenty of new faces, including manager Kevin Cash. Can they upend the Orioles in the highly competitive AL East? Come here to follow Rays news at Tropicana Field and beyond.